Fluid data: The problem of accurately estimating household access to water and sanitation in the United States

Recent high-profile crises have disrupted the myth of universal access to potable water and sanitation in the United States. According to the Joint Monitoring Project on access to Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (JMP), more than 99% of the population have unfettered access to water services [1]. Reports and scholarly papers, however, show higher numbers lacking potable water and/or sanitation services – specifically in places with high percentages of historically marginalized populations. Mainstream media, politicians, and agency functionaries generally voice support for addressing the issue. Still, sustainable programs, policy development, and activism have been hampered by a lack of data that accurately depicts the problem. In this essay we analyze the currently available data collection systems estimating water, sanitation, and hygiene (WaSH) access in the United States – in databases located across multiple government agencies to measure different policy objectives, and at different temporal and geographic scales. This leads to rather disparate estimates of the scope and magnitude of the problem and creates an information landscape that is difficult to navigate for those focused on improving conditions. We discuss new initiatives (specifically portals and dashboards) that aim to improve data availability, accuracy, and visualization to drive better policies, programs, and actions toward closing the WaSH gap in the United States. These are important steps for improving data about access to potable water and functional sanitation.